Oman

Over 35,000 invasive birds eliminated in Dhofar

 
MUSCAT: The Environment Authority (EA) has announced that over 35,000 invasive birds have been eradicated as a result of the national campaign to combat their presence in the Governorate of Dhofar.

The preliminary results, released on Wednesday, showed that 9,368 of the birds were Indian crows and 25,786 were mynahs.

The increasing number of invasive birds prompted the EA to launch a national campaign in December with the aim of controlling their spread across the Sultanate of Oman. A team was formed to conduct a study on the impact of these birds and develop a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.

Invasive birds, such as Indian crows and mynahs, cause significant harm to the environment and local communities. They destroy crops, eat bees and transmit diseases, parasites and fleas to both humans and animals. The mynah, first reported in the Muscat Governorate in 1982, also affects the food chain in the areas they inhabit, often attacking and killing the young of other bird species.

The EA's efforts to eliminate these invasive birds will not only reduce their negative impact on the environment and local communities, but also preserve the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

@vinot_nair